Costs are beginning to add up in murder trial
March 8, 2023
HARTINGTON — Cedar County has spent almost $125,000 in costs stemming from the Laurel quadruple murder cases.
It’s been seven months since four people — Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford, Dana Twiford and Michele Shankles-Ebeling — tragically lost their lives on Aug. 4, 2022.
While there can be no accounting for the cost of human life, only one tangible bill for more than $124,000 has been attributed so far to the apprehension and prosecution of Jason Jones, and his wife, Carrie, in the Laurel deaths.
Those costs are expected to rise exponentially as the judicial phase of the case is just getting underway.
The bill for more than $124,000 was paid to the security firm that guarded Jason Jones while he was at the hospital recovering from burn injuries.
Cedar County Clerk Dave Dowling said he hasn’t seen any other bills yet, but has a plan for them when they start arriving.
The sheriff’s office will be receiving bills from Antelope County for housing Carrie Jones at about $50 per day.
Sheriff Larry Koranda said Cedar County rarely houses female prisoners. Antelope County’s facility in Neligh is better equipped and that’s why she’s housed there instead of at the Cedar County Jail.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services charges more than $90 per day to house Jason Jones.
“They have more services to handle his medical needs and security needs,” Koranda said.
Other sheriff’s office costs will be absorbed by the department’s budget, such as manpower to transport both Joneses to and from court hearings, and to take Jason Jones to medical appointments as needed.
March 8, 2023
HARTINGTON — One man is dead and another is in custody after a shooting being classified as workplace violence.
Israel Matos-Colon, 31, Fowlerville, Mich., was identified Monday as the victim by the Nebraska State Patrol. His name had been withheld pending notification of family.
The suspect, 20-year-old David Phillips, Kenner, La., was taken into custody at the scene of the shooting, a tower worksite located about two miles north of Hartington.
Law enforcement was called to a work area near the intersection of Highway 57 and 885th Road at about 9 a.m. March 1.
The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office found Matos-Colon with multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses at the scene attempted life-saving measures on him. Matos-Colon was transported to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D., where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a workplace argument between Phillips and Matos-Colon. The State Patrol is conducting the homicide investigation.
Phillips was arrested shortly after the shooting on suspicion of second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony; he had not been officially charged as of Monday afternoon.